Dear Sir: Will write you in regard to my service on
the frontier of Texas. I served with James Bourland, who came
from the East with his Company, and was stationed at Gainesville in
Cook[e] County. Don't know what authority he had. He forced me
and boys that was old enough, from 15 years and up.
Me and
father
[Joseph
Hodge] had to join him.

When the war was over, we had to protect ourselves
and our neighbors. The company went east or some place I do not know, so
the few citizens organized a minute company. There was no
militia company that I know of until the war was over. They all left
there. After the war we had a hard time from 1865 and 1872, when in that
year 1872 is the last [Indian] fight we had; so if a man is not entitled
to a pension that went through the cold and sleet and heat, and
hardships, half starved and almost naked. I have lived on the
frontier of Texas and blazed the way for civilization all the way across
the State, until at this time my wife and I are almost played out, and
we are in destitute circumstances, and we feel that this State, for we
have given the best of our lives, should at least help me now in the
last few days. We now live in a very cheap house worth not more than
$200.00, but have no means of support, and as not able to work.

Now, Mr. Sheppard, just think what a hard time we had
just protecting ourselves and neighbour. My brother [William
Hodges]

was killed in battlein the fall of 1863 in Clay County, we
had to bury him and three other boys in the same grave, he now sleeps in
Clay County, but the grave is lost and no living man knows where
it is today. I drove a yoke of oxen to a wagon hauled dead men in, go
back the next day after a battle and pick up the dead men to bury. I
will name a few that was killed by Indians where I fought: Mr. [A.H.S.]
Fortenbury, Sol Foster, and Reeves, Geo. McCommoc and
BillMcCommocks horse was killed under him, while we were in battle.
They lived in Denton County, in Denton town. Now Mr. Hon. Geo.
Sheppard I hope you will consider my letter and what I have said as the
truth so help me God.

Yours truly, with best regards, ... (signed) S.G. Hodges

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Affidavit
of Witnesses .... 1931

From: W.R.
Carmack, Motley County Judge, Matador, Texas, July 8, 1931

None of the comrades of this old gentleman are now to
be found in this part of the country, and he has lost track of them all;
but he has lived in Matador, Texas for the last 31 years, and his life
has been such that everybody who knows him, and heard him tell of his
hardships and battles with wild Indians believe that he is as much
entitled to a pension as any man in Texas. His brother [William
P. Hodges] was killed in a battle right by his side by
Indians in Clay County, and his grave is lost.

Mrs. Hodges, his wife, is sick now, and they are in
destitute circumstances, but he has never been known to ask for help
other than a pension. He was refused a pension in 1929 because he could
not remember his company or battalion, but nobody doubts his having
served faithfully during the Civil War, and for several years on the
frontier of Texas fighting Indians after the war was over. His many
friends here and elsewhere believe it would be a crime to refuse him
this aid, a pension, during his remaining days. He and his good wife
have raised a large family, many of them now dead, and the others
scattered over a wide territory, trying to make a living for their own
families.

While I know that this application is not complete in
every respect, I also know that this many should have help from the
State in his last few days, that he helped settle and civilize in his
younger days. We truly hope that you will see to grant the pension.

Editor's note: Yes,
Julian N. Gist (of Denton Co TX) was in both Companies F and G of
Bourland's Regt. The
Adjutant General's office scrambled
the records of Companies G, H., and I .... so confusing that the
U.S. War Dept. tried in 1911 and yours truly is still trying to unscramble
these G, H., and I records. The good news is that the men of Co F
were mostly from the Montague Co TX area where your Solomon Hodges
lived. There were several kids who patrolled or drove cattle on the North and West
Frontier with no recognition, documentation nor payment, plus these kids
furnished their own horse and equipage. I am not surprised.
Only the established surnames (i.e. older residents) were remembered when
the 1st Sgt. was recording the regimental monthly report for men who were
patrolling many miles away (maybe 100 miles away ... on a horse).
And I must quickly add that many times the 1st Sgt. did not have writing
materials.

In my book I have a rather long
article describing the death of William Hodge in the Clay Co TX.
Yes, this is the brother of your Solomon and I'm sure that the death
inspired him to do everything he could to memorialize his brother.
Also mentioned in my book is Solomon's father and brother, Joseph and
Elijah Hodges, respectively.

Minute Men company. An important part of this CSA
pension application #51091 is his description
of the Minute Men Company and their activities until 1872.

Having just returned from a scout in the vicinity of
the Wichita Mountains, and other parts of the frontier, I imagine the
events of the excursion will be somewhat interesting to your readers. On
the 18th of July, Lt. James R. Giddens in command of
26 men left this place on an Indian hunt. We traveled about 10 miles,
and reached the old post [Bourland's
Headquarters] formerly occupied by Capt. James
Bourland's
Company of Rangers; finding good water, and grass, we encamped for
the night. At an early hour of the 19th we were again on the
march, and after a travel of three hours we crossed "Little Wichita."
... found good grass and water on Long Creek, a tributary of the Little
Wichita. On the 20th, we started for the Big Wichita —
crossed at Valentine's Crossing — went up the River about a mile —
nooned at an old vacated rancho formerly occupied by a Mr. ? Nechard
[? Samuel Wychard] who was killed sometime since by the Indians. — We pursued
our course up the Wichita [River]. About sun down we found ourselves at
[J.]
Campbell Gooch's that had been evacuated. On the 21st
at the rising of the sun, we were again on the march—traveled a
northwest course about 10 miles, struck Red River at [Mabel] Gilbert's
Rancho [Wichita Co TX]. Here again was desolation and destruction — here
were marks of the outrages of these merciless red devils who have ever
since my first recollection infested the frontier of Texas. Mr.
Gilbert left his home at or near the same time that Gooch was
compelled to abandon his place. Gilbert's was also a well
finished home.

You may imagine that we began to feel "woolfish" for
our situation was by no means viable. Our arms consisted of two
rifles and a Colts navy, and in consequence of so much rain,
and the inferiority of the [gun] powder and caps that we
have to use we could place but little confidence in our shooting
irons. But believing it a desperate case at best, we continued to
travel homeward, resolved that if we were attacked by Indians, to sell
out as dear as possible.

On Saturday last, they attacked five cow hunters
about 12 miles from Camp Brunson [Clay Co TX], killing three and
wounding one. The wounded man and his father escaped. The names of those
killed were John McGehee, William Hodge
and Levi Hill. The Indians got their horses and saddles. The two
men that escaped made their way into Camp Brunson, and informed
Capt. Joseph Ward of what had transpired. He sent men to bury the
dead, and follow the murderers.

At last accounts, they [Ward’s Company] were
on the trail, but I do not know how far behind. As soon as the
intelligence came to Red River Station, Capt. [J.T. Rowland started out
two scouts. We have not heard from them since they left, but feel
confident that they will use every exertion to catch them.

We have in anticipation an expedition to the North Canadian River,
and the Arkansas river. Our Lt-Col has just returned from Fort
Arbuckle, where he had been for the purpose of procuring aid from
the Indian troops that are stationed there. While there he made an
arrangement for the Tonkaways to come, and live in Texas again.
Five of them are here now, and the remainder of them will be in to
night. This tribe is now almost extinct. The bringing of the Tonks
among us, is not approved of by many. If I am correctly informed, it is
the intention of the Colonel [Bourland], to divide them out, and
put a few at each station, on the frontier. In my mind it will cause
trouble, however time will prove. C.A.W.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

1872 Minute Men. The only Hodges who served in the
1872 Minute Men that I know of was William H. Hodge. He served in Wise County
from March 19-September 2, 1872 under
lieutenants R.T. Rieger and George W. Stevens. Possibly a relative?
There
was no minute company for Denton County, but as you know Wise is right
next
door. That would be the most logical choice, unless Solomon moved to a
completely different part of the frontier in the seven years after the
war. per Daren Ivey of Manhattan KS.